The Struggle for Social and Racial

A Moral Imperative

September 5-6, 2020

Justice

O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; Al-Ma'idah (5:8)

Islamic Society of North America

57th ANNUAL ISNA VIRTUAL CONVENTION

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

Main Session

10:30 – 11:30 AM Opening Session● RecitationfromtheHolyQuran● WelcomeRemarks

Sayyid M. Syeed - ISNA President, Safaa Zarzour - ISNA Vice President (US), Muhammad Jalaluddin - ISNA Vice President (Canada)

● Programoverview Aisha Al-Adawiya – Program Committee Co-chair

● MessagesfromorganizationalheadsanddignitariesJavaid Siddiqui - ICNA President, Salam Marayati - MPAC President, Ayman Hamous - MAS President, Nihad Awad - CAIR Exec Director, Tahir Javed and other dignitaries

Moderator:AzharAzeez

11:30 AM – 12:30 PMSession 1A

Topic:RelianceonFaithinTimesofDifficultyDescription: As we face difficulties in uncertain times, we are reminded to turn to Al-lah for guidance, for understanding through the Qur’an, and embody the example of our Beloved Prophet (sws). We seek strength through spiritual practices and actions that are pleasing to Allah. ● Speakers:Tamara Gray, Mohamed Magid, Ieasha Prime, Muzammil Siddiqi

ParallelSessions(3sessions)

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 2A

Topic:PrincipledPoliticalActionforSocialJustice

Speakers: Farooq Mitha, Basheer Jones, Abdul El-Sayed, Rep. Andre Carson

Description: Due to 2020 being a critical election year, it is imperative to be politi-cally active and strategically engaged to shape the leadership and policies that will affect Americans of all backgrounds in the coming years. This session will look at the approaches and opportunities for our community to work for more inclusive justice and to counter hate in America.

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 2B

OrganizationalSession- International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)Topic:ChallengesoftheModernIslamicThoughtSpeakers: Ahmad Al-Alwani, Hisham Al-Talib

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 2C

YouthSession - Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)Topic: TheEssentials:LimitingWorldlyDistractionsSpeakers:Mohamed Magid, Rami NsourDescription:This session will be the first session the youth attend as we welcome them into our convention theme: “The Essentials: How the Prophet (sws) Wanted Us to Live.” As Muslim Youth in North America, we tend to find ourselves entangled in worldly matters. Some of these worldly matters are good for us, but oftentimes they can distract us from our connection with our deen and Allah SWT. In this session, we will be discussing how we can replace these nonessential worldly distractions with “essential” matters that will prepare us for success in both this world and the hereaf-ter. We will also be referring to the Prophetic example of living a simpler life, freer of excessive distractions.

1:45 – 2:30 PM BREAKFORPRAYER&LUNCH

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 3A

Topic:BeingProactiveDuringCovid-19Speakers:Ismail Mehr (IMANNA), Margari Hill (Black Muslim Coalition on COVID, MuslimARC), Rania Awaad (Khalil Center), Hasan Shanawani (AMPH)Description: COVID-19 has challenged our lives in unanticipated ways. As we adjust to this new reality, we are called to pursue best practices for our collective well-being - physically and mentally. We must also consider those most severely impacted by the virus in this pandemic, and what actions the community as a whole can take to better protect the most vulnerable.

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 3B

OrganizationalSession- Association of Muslim Scientists, Engineers and Technol-ogy Professionals (AMSET)Topic:MuslimScientists’PerspectiveontheSpreadingoftheNovelCoronavirusSpeakers: M. Taher Saif, Umbereen Nehal, Sohel AnwarDescription:I - COVID 19 and home-made mask: The COVID-19 virus spreads through droplets emitted during sneezing, coughing, or speaking. A healthy individual can get infected by inhaling droplets. Face masks can offer a physical barrier against virus transmis-sion. Will home-made masks be effective, and if so by what mechanism? We will discuss our recent research on the efficacy of home fabrics in blocking high velocity droplets.II - What to do to Prevent COVID-19 Spread as per Science: Your duty as a Muslim Neighbor: Learn how to stay safe and keep others safe while optimizing your own physical, mental, spiritual, and financial health. This talk will present up to date, evidence-based guidance from the leading public health authorities in academics, government, and public health. Also, learn how to identify ways to separate facts from misinformation found on social media.

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 3C

YouthSession- Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)Topic: Tawakkul:HavingTrustinAllahSWTSpeaker:Ubaydullah EvansDescription:When we are facing struggles or uncertainty in our lives, it can often be difficult to maintain a positive outlook. Tawakkul provides a way for us to seek closeness and trust in Allah during our times of darkness. Tawakkul brings light into our lives. As youth, our lives can become really stressful as we try to navigate who we are while being a part of society that doesn’t always understand us. By reinforc-ing the concept of our Lord, who is the All-Merciful and All-Rewarding, working to have a plan can strengthen our faith and trust in Him. This session will also cover some of the examples our prophets set for us in terms of turning to Allah SWT in times of hardship.

SpecialEvent

3:45 – 5:00 PMSession 4A

VirtualFundraising/CommunityServiceAwardCeremonyAward Recipient - Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Former President and Vice President of ISNAKeynote Address - Shaykh Hamza YusufSpeakers: Azhar Azeez, Safaa Zarzour Moderator: Rashed Nizam

5:15 – 6:45 PMSession 4B

ChaplaincySessionTopic: ChallengesandOpportunitiesofMuslimChaplainsinAmericanInstitutions”In this session, Muslim chaplains from various backgrounds and experiences will share both the challenges and opportunities they encounter on a day-to-day basis. Muslim American chaplains represent the American Muslim community in the military, hospitals, and in correctional institutions. They serve in some of the most so-cially and culturally pluralistic environments in the nation. The chaplain is trained to perform and provide ministry to not only Muslims, but to non-Muslims of diverse faith backgrounds, and to people with no faith at all, yet they provide the utmost quality spiritual care and emotional support to all that they’re called to serve. Panelists: Chaplain (COL) Dawud Agbere, US Army, Installation Chaplain, Ft. Benning, GA, Samsiah Abdul-Majid, Hospital Chaplain, Chaplain Hussain Sheikh, BOP, Dept Justice, and Chaplain (Lt.) US Navy Reserve, Chaplain (CPT) Rafael Lantigua, Staff Chaplain US Airforce Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

Moderator: Abdul- Rasheed Muhammad, MS, MSW, BCC, Director Islamic Ser-vices & Endorsing Agent

5:15 – 6:45 PMSession 4C

Kids’SpecialProgramPresentedbyNoorKids

5:15 – 6:45 PMSession 4D

TBD

ISNAMainSession

7:00 – 8:30 PMSession 5A

7:00 – 7:10 PMISNALifetimeAchievementAward-PresentedtoDr.SaiyidMasroorShahforhisdecadesofselflessserviceandcommitmenttotheMuslimcommunityandsocietyatlarge.Dr. Saiyid Masroor Shah is a retired radiation physicist living in Newburgh, Indiana. A long-standing member of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Dr. Shah is serving as the chair of ISNA’s Green Initiative committee. As a member of this committee, he has spearheaded multiple projects, webinars, and forged alliances to bring awareness about climate change and Green initiatives. Dr. Shah has been an active volunteer in ISNA and AMSET (Association of Muslim Scientists, Engineers, and Technology Professionals) activities since 1977. He has served as chairperson on ISNA’s convention committee in 1982-83, is a member of ISNA Founder’s committee, member of ISNA Masjid Development Committee (2014-18), past President of AMSET, past NAIT (North American Islamic Trust) board member, member of the board of Trustees of Islamic Society of Evansville, member Board of Directors of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light (H-IPL), member Evansville Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Committee, member Interfaith partners (Interfaith group formed by University of Evansville) and has received the State of Indiana Golden Hoosier Award in 2010.

AwardpresentedbySayyidM.Syeed,ISNAPresident.---------------------------------------------------------------------------Topic:20/20VisionOnRacismSpeakers:Linda Sarsour, Bilal Ware, Siraj Wahhaj, Khalil Gibran MuhammadDescription: As we entered 2020, many of us prayed for a clearer vision for our lives, our families, our communities, our society. With that came the witnessing of the prevalence of ongoing systemic oppression of Black people in the United States. To overcome blind spots, the broader Muslim communities need to turn to one another, listen to the knowledge and experiences of our brothers and sisters, especially from among the African American community, so that a recognition of adjustments can be made. As a community and individuals, we need to recognize ways we may be complicit in racism, may have internalized white supremacy, and work diligently to become active anti-racists in society.

8:30 PM MaghribPrayer

8:45-9:00pm Session 5B

Topic:ImaamilAl-Amin’scase-AnupdateontheappealagainsthisincarcerationSpaeker:Khairi Al-Amin

Entertainment

9:00–10:30PM EntertainmentbyPreacherMoss,KashmirMaryam,AlmanNusrat,Raef

SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER6,2020

Main Session

11:00 AM – 12:30 PMSession 6A

Topic: CaringforCommunityinTimesofCOVIDSpeakers:Anwar Khan, Khalid Latif, Marium Husain Description: Serving our Muslim community in the time of COVID has involved difficult decisions by religious and community leaders. From ensuring safety, well-be-ing, and protecting the lives of our community members, the love and devotion that normally brings us together has become the strength for us to keep our distance. As we learn to live with COVID, this session will look at how best to serve one another in our community. How does our community’s leadership best engage, offer support, plan for the future, serve families, address disparities, and serve those most impact-ed?

ParallelSessions(3sessions)

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 7A

Topic: AdvancingClearerVisionfortheNextGenerationSpeakers:Sameera Ahmad, Magda Elkadi Saleh, Habib Quadri, Abdalla IdrisDescription: The entrenchment of white supremacy is embedded in the education and socializa-tion within our society. Through the narratives that shape our values and sense of who we are as people and society, and the images that continually feed stereotypes, groups become marginalized. This session will look at how we can mindfully educate our children, as Muslims, parents and teachers, in ways that provide more balanced, just and inclusive narratives of our world and society. The session will also touch on strategies related to online and religious education in our current context.

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 7B

OrganizationalSessionBusinessSuccessandSocialResponsibilityThis session will bring together Business leaders from the Muslim community to reflect on their successes, challenges, corporate social responsibility and lessons learned. They will talk about how businesses can leverage their resources and knowledge to bring about positive change in the society while also focussing on their corporate goals. The panelists will share ideas and lessons on building alliances and strengthening relationships. Businesses can achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental domains while maintaining stakeholder interests.

12:45 – 1:45 PMSession 7C

YouthSession- Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)Topic: FindingyourPassionsinthisDunyaSpeakers:Linda SarsourDescription:Whether it is an artistic hobby, devotion to activism, social leadership, or anything else, it can be helpful to find passions for ourselves that help us stay connected to our communities while developing positive skills and characteristics. This session will be discussing how to find these passions in terms of what suits us specifically along with the importance of doing so. In addition, we will be delving into passion in regards to Islam. We want to be able to maintain that sense of devotion in our religion; instead of being ashamed of being Muslim, we should be proud of it. This interactive session will consist of discussing and tackling this concept.

1:45 – 2:30 PM BREAKFORPRAYER&LUNCH

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 8A

OrganizationalSession- Indian Muslim Relief Council (IMRC)Topic:ThestoriesofMuslimsLynchedandOppressedundertheHindutvaRegimeSpeakers: Harsh Mander, Muqteder Khan, Assaduddin OwaisiModerator: Manzoor Ghori Description:HarshMander:The intrepid civil rights advocate tells the story of Muslims who have been lynched or ill-treated by the state and the efforts by civil rights advocates to defend their rights. Things that American Indians do to defend the vulnerable commu-nities in India.Tipping Point: Implications of the Saffronisation of IndiaDr.MuqtedarKhan examines the fundamental political changes taking place India such as the rise of Hindu nationalism, decline of pluralism and democracy and their impact on the Muslim minority. He will also identify what American Muslims can do to protect India’s democracy and the rights of minorities

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 8B

OrganizationsSession(Census-TBD)

2:30 – 3:30 PMSession 8C

AMoralImperative-InterfaithTalkShowDescription:An Interfaith discussion with leaders of different Faith Communities following the theme of this year’s convention. Speakers:Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson (United Church of Christ), Rabbi Burton Visotzky (Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary), Professor Simran Jeet Singh (Professor of Religion at the Union Theological Seminary), Ms. Ra-heemah Abdulaleem, Esq (Former Chair of Karamah)

Main Session

3:45 – 5:00 PMSession 8D

FromSymbolictoSystematicinResponsetoClimateChangeSpeakers:Saffet Catovic, Ingrid Mattson, Zaid Shakir, Nina Firman, Jamal BadawiDescription:Climate change is a looming cloud threatening to bring disaster, famine and future plagues if we do not make radical change. COVID-19 has shown us our own capacity to change the way we live. This session will look at how we can inno-vate and adjust our old patterns to make systematic changes to the way we are living and work, relying on Allah, to avoid forecasted implications of our global systems.

ParallelSessions (3sessions)

5:30 – 6:30 PMSession9A

ISNASession(30minuteseach)Topic: GlobalIssues:FightingRohingyasGenocideinBurmaSpeakers:Wakar Uddin, Arslan Suleiman ---------------------------------------Topic: GlobalIssues:PalestineSpeaker: Hatem Bazian

5:30 – 6:30 PMSession9B

ISNASession(30minuteseach)Topic:GlobalIssues:Kashmiri-ParadiseunderSiegeSpeaker: Ghulam Nabi Mir (KAC)------------------------------------------Topic:GlobalIssues:HumanitarianCrisisinSyriaSpeakers: Zaher Sahloul

5:30 – 6:30 PMSession9C

Topic:UyghurMuslimsunderChineseSpeaker:Abdul Malik Mujahid, Aydin Anwar--------------------------------------Topic:YemeninCrisisSpeakers:Anwar Khan, Jennifer Mudawwar

Main Session

7:00 – 8:30 PMSession 10A

Topic:TheMoralImperativeforAllofUs

Speakers:Zaid Shakir, Ubaydullah Evans, Yasir Qadhi, Safaa Zarzour, Ieasha Prime

Description:We are living in a moment in history that our children and grandchil-dren will ask us about. More importantly we will be asked on the Day of Judgment how we responded when the news of injustice reached us. If we have wondered where we would have been in the Seerah of the Prophet (sws), we should look to where we are in responding to the injustice now in our society. Are we in the front lines with our time, energy and resources to combat oppression and defend the mar-ginalized, or are we being complacent and enjoying the status quo? At what point in the story do we truly stand behind the Prophet (sws)

8:30 PM MaghribPrayer

Entertainment

9:00–10:15PM EntertainmentbyPreacherMoss,MoSabri,andothers

ClosingRemarks

10:15 – 10:30 PM Closing remarks by ISNA leadership